Chapter Summaries

Yang Zhengshan defeated Wu Chongzhe in a display of strength, then fought him evenly enough to earn his admiration. He urged Wu Chongzhe to bring the Wu family out of seclusion and serve under him, leaving Wu Chongzhe to consider whether the family would accept that arrangement.

• Yang Zhengshan overwhelmed Wu Chongzhe with a series of powerful spear strikes, forcing him to retreat against a wall.
• Wu Chongzhe attacked with his saber, but Yang Zhengshan restrained his counterattacks and used the exchange to test himself against a challenging opponent.
• Wu Chongzhe realized Yang Zhengshan was holding back and angrily called him out, so Yang Zhengshan ended the fight and praised his skill.
• Yang Zhengshan treated Wu Chongzhe warmly and invited him inside, while Wu Chongzhe's anger gave way to admiration.
• Yang Zhengshan urged Wu Chongzhe to bring the Wu family out of seclusion and risk serving him, and Wu Chongzhe weighed the proposal against the family's desire for independence.

Yang Zhengshan reorganized the troops and military households around Anyuan City while Yi Shan reacted to the destruction of his caravan by the Town Garrison Camp. After learning that Li He had gone to Jia City, Yang Zhengshan suspected Sha Pingchuan was tied to the conspiracy and directed Wei Cen to focus the Secret Martial Guard’s investigation there.

• Yang Zhengshan told Wu Chongzhe to integrate into the bureaucracy, appointed him to Shuiquan Fortress, and outlined preparations for spring plowing and troop training.
• Yang Zhengshan oversaw Garrison Battalion training and the measurement of fortress farmland while considering ways to relieve military households’ poverty.
• Yi Shan heard that Town Garrison Camp cavalry had destroyed his caravan and left to handle the matter, while two figures followed his carriage.
• Wei Cen told Yang Zhengshan that Yi Shan had gone to see Li He and that Li He had traveled to Jia City.
• Yang Zhengshan inferred that Li He had gone to find Sha Pingchuan and instructed Wei Cen to shift the Secret Martial Guard’s attention toward him.

Yang Zhengshan inspected Shaling Fortress’s spring-plowing preparations and chose a riverside hollow as the site for a larger horse farm, directing Yang Mingcheng to arrange its development. He returned to the Official Hall to learn that Yang Yunyan had given birth to a daughter, leaving the family celebrating the new arrival.

• Yang Zhengshan checked Yang Minghao’s farm tools and grain stores at Shaling Fortress and found the preparations satisfactory.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yang Mingcheng surveyed a hollow near the Ying River, and Yang Zhengshan chose it for a new horse farm.
• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Mingcheng to bring Ma San to the site, planned to sell the shops at Chongshan Pass to fund construction, and asked him to contact Luo Shang about opening a cloth shop in Anyuan City.
• Wu Hai told Yang Zhengshan that Yang Yunyan was about to give birth, while Zhou Ren reported that the soldiers’ basic training was complete and several tun fortresses needed farm tools.
• Yang Yunyan gave birth to a daughter, and Yang Zhengshan doubled the residence’s monthly wages as a reward.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed his granddaughter Jiang Miao and told Yu Qingyi he would send a marriage proposal to the Azure Sky Sword Sect. Yu Qingyi refused because she was the sect master and could not leave the sect, leaving their future unresolved.

• Yang Zhengshan held his newborn granddaughter, named her Jiang Miao, and learned that Jiang He cherished his daughter.
• Yang Zhengshan returned to Yu Qingyi and announced that he would send someone to the Azure Sky Sword Sect to propose marriage.
• Yu Qingyi refused, explaining that she was born humble and could not leave the Azure Sky Sword Sect because she was its sect master.
• Yang Zhengshan recognized that Yu Qingyi would need to arrange a new sect master before marrying, and waited as she considered what to do.

Yang Zhengshan promised Yu Qingyi he would not fail her and began arranging for their marriage, writing to the Lu Family out of respect for his late wife. He then urged Wei Cen to act against Sha Pingchuan before the smuggling investigation went cold, while the possible role of Prince Qing remained uncertain.

• Yu Qingyi declared that she would resign as sect leader, and Yang Zhengshan promised he would not let her down.
• Yang Zhengshan wrote Lu Songhe a long letter explaining his remarriage and affirming his gratitude and ties to the Lu Family.
• Lu Songhe and Qi Family Matriarch accepted that Yang Zhengshan would marry again, though they felt sorrow for Lady Lu.
• Yang Zhengshan summoned Wei Cen and warned that Sha Pingchuan might be in danger if the Secret Martial Guard delayed.
• Wei Cen agreed to report the matter to Eunuch Lu and go to Chongshan Pass, while Yang Zhengshan reflected on rumors about Prince Qing and the Late Crown Prince.

Lü Hua ordered Wei Cen to close the Secret Martial Guard’s investigation without proving Prince Qing Mansion’s involvement, then gave him a box to deliver to Yang Zhengshan. At Shaling Fortress, Yang Zhengshan discussed the booming Pass City, his growing plans for the Yang Family, and education for his household and workers’ children.

• Lü Hua told Wei Cen to close the case because they lacked time and evidence, then asked what he thought of Yang Zhengshan.
• Wei Cen praised Yang Zhengshan as benevolent, while Lü Hua judged him useful and handed Wei Cen a sandalwood box for him.
• Yang Zhengshan learned from Yang Mingcheng that four shops in Pass City had sold for three thousand taels as property prices and commerce rose.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Yang Mingcheng to double Ma San’s wages and arrange for Ma San’s younger son to study with Lin Zhan.
• Yang Zhengshan instructed Yang Mingcheng to find tutors for Cheng Ye and the girls in the family.

Yang Zhengshan worried that the Yang Family’s finances would not cover future expenses and social obligations, then left the well-managed Horse Farm for Anyuan City. On Fu'an Street, Yang Yunxue and Wang Yunqiao went shopping until a reckless group of riders endangered passersby, and Yang Yunxue knocked their young noble leader from his horse with a thrown stick.

• Yang Zhengshan considered the Yang Family’s dwindling silver, future costs, and the need to join Anyuan City’s official social circles, then trusted Yang Mingcheng to manage the Horse Farm and rode back to the city.
• Yang Yunxue and Wang Yunqiao shopped on Fu'an Street, bargained over wood carvings, and bought six for their family.
• A group of riders galloped through the street, knocking a half-grown boy down and injuring him.
• Angry at the riders, Yang Yunxue threw the woodcarver’s walking stick and struck the young noble on the head, toppling him from his horse.

Yang Yunxue was seized by the prefectural magistrate’s son after she stopped his attendants from galloping through the street. Yang Zhengshan rushed to the Prefecture Magistrate Office with orders to surround it, while Lin Xuan and Hao Zhaoxian mistakenly assumed his visit concerned the Liang Family.

• Yang Yunxue threw a walking stick to stop the young master’s horse, and his attendants seized her after he ordered them to take her away.
• Mother Zhang was slapped down, and Xiafeng escaped to report that Yang Yunxue had been abducted.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Han Cheng to bring the Garrison Battalion to surround the Prefecture Magistrate Office, then rode there himself.
• Yang Zhengshan identified himself at the yamen gate and waited outside while a runner went to inform Lin Xuan.
• Lin Xuan and Hao Zhaoxian heard that Yang Zhengshan had arrived and assumed he had come about the Liang Family before Lin Xuan went to meet him.

Yang Zhengshan received a pardon decree for Third Master Liang and a Secret Martial Guard list of targets, then launched a citywide crackdown in Anyuan City. He arrested Prefect Lin Xuan and Assistant Commissioner Hao Zhaoxian, took control of the prefectural yamen, and was reunited with Yang Yunxue.

• Wei Cen delivered Lü Hua’s pardon decree for Third Master Liang and the Secret Martial Guard’s arrest list, then left for Jia City after ordering Anyuan City sealed for three days.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Han Cheng to close all four city gates and sent soldiers to seize Lin Xuan and Hao Zhaoxian outside the yamen.
• Yang Zhengshan led troops into the prefectural yamen, while Wang Sheng took charge of the rear courtyard and Wu Hai searched for Yang Yunxue.
• Wu Hai questioned the yamen staff, found a lead, and brought Yang Yunxue to Yang Zhengshan less than a quarter of an hour later.

Yang Zhengshan rescued Yang Yunxue, ordered the arrests of the Lin and Liang Families, and tracked down Yi Shan and Hou Jun as they tried to flee. After revealing that the Secret Martial Guard had exposed their schemes, he urged them to surrender, but Yi Shan escaped onto the rooftop and Hou Jun prepared to fight.

• Yang Zhengshan comforted Yang Yunxue after Wu Hai reported that the Lin Family's third young master had locked her in a side room, then ordered Wu Hai to break the young master's limbs and take him to prison.
• Yang Zhengshan suspected an artificial hill at the Lin residence hid an underground space, but left it alone and returned to issue orders to guard the Prefecture Magistrate Office, seize the Military Defense Circuit Office, and arrest the Liang Family.
• Yi Shan and Hou Jun heard that Yang Zhengshan had stormed the Prefecture Magistrate Office and decided to flee, abandoning Lin Xuan, Hao Zhaoxian, and the Liang Family if necessary.
• Yang Zhengshan arrived at the West City courtyard and confronted Yi Shan and Hou Jun as they packed to leave, then disclosed that the Secret Martial Guard had arranged his apparent acceptance of their overtures.
• Yang Zhengshan urged Yi Shan and Hou Jun to surrender, but Hou Jun drew his blade and Yi Shan leapt onto the rooftop.

Yang Zhengshan captured Yi Shan and helped subdue the Black Cliff Stronghold fighters during the Secret Martial Guard operation in Anyuan Prefecture City. After returning with the prisoners, he tightened the city’s defenses and prepared to bring in more soldiers.

• Yang Zhengshan pursued Yi Shan across the rooftops, defeated him with spear attacks and Thousand Mechanism Hand, and broke both his arms after thwarting a hidden short-sword attack.
• Yang Zhengshan knocked out Hou Jun with a copper coin, allowing Ding Qiu and Ding Si to capture him, while the soldiers suppressed the remaining Black Cliff Stronghold fighters.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered the prisoners taken to the Prefecture Magistrate Office prison and told Han Cheng that he was cooperating with the Secret Martial Guard.
• Han Cheng reported that the four city gates were closed and guarded, and Yang Zhengshan ordered him to have Xie Yuan bring five hundred soldiers into the city to reinforce its defenses.

Yang Zhengshan finished arranging the arrests of Liang Rong and the other suspects, then checked on Yang Yunxue and reassured Yu Qingyi. He told Yu Qingyi he planned to visit the Azure Sky Sword Sect to propose marriage and recruit guards, and learned that he would need to offer the sect benefits to win her martial uncles’ support.

• Wang Sheng reported that Liang Rong had been captured, and Yang Zhengshan ordered the prisoners guarded despite the shortage of cells.
• Yang Zhengshan returned home, warned Yang Mingcheng to stay inside, and checked that Yang Yunxue had recovered from her fright.
• Yang Zhengshan told Yu Qingyi she could leave the courtyard and said he would accompany her to the Azure Sky Sword Sect to propose marriage.
• Yang Zhengshan explained that he wanted to recruit martial artists from the sect to protect his family.
• Yu Qingyi said her four martial uncles would need to approve and suggested that Yang Zhengshan recommend the sect’s disciples for official posts.

Yang Zhengshan offered to recommend Yu Qingyi’s junior brother for a military post and discussed recruiting Azure Sky Sword Sect martial artists as household guards. After the Liang Family fell, he asked Luo Shang to take over its businesses in Anyuan City and pursue its properties in Jing'an Prefecture.

• Yang Zhengshan agreed to consider placing Luo Feiyu under his command as a Vice Thousand-Man Commander if his abilities proved suitable, and Yu Qingyi offered several trained servants as guards if she married him.
• Wei Cen returned to Anyuan City with hundreds of officials and guards; he told Yang Zhengshan that Black Cliff Stronghold had been destroyed and that Yang’s troops needed to guard several properties until confiscation officials arrived.
• Luo Shang told Yang Zhengshan that Jinxiu Workshop had stopped expanding and that he had secured cloth supplies from the Luo Family and merchants in Jiangnan.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang to follow proper procedures to acquire the Liang Family’s former businesses and properties in Anyuan City.
• Yang Zhengshan urged Luo Shang to pursue the Liang Family’s properties in Jing'an Prefecture, where his success would depend largely on his own ability.

Yang Zhengshan arranged for Luo Shang to expand his business in Anyuan City and create vocational opportunities for military households. After Luo Shang departed and the smuggling case moved beyond Yang Zhengshan’s concern, Yang Zhengshan told the family he planned to marry Yu Qingyi and proceeded with the preparations when no one objected.

• Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang to visit the Lu Family and Luo Jin in Anning County before developing business in Jing'an Prefecture.
• Yang Zhengshan urged Luo Shang to establish an embroideress school and train military households in trades, and Luo Shang agreed to open workshops and a Jinxiu Workshop branch in Anyuan City.
• Luo Shang left Anyuan City after three days, and Ma San brought his family there the following day to await the construction of the horse farm.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that the remaining suspects in the smuggling case had been sent to Chongshan Pass for trial and chose not to involve himself further.
• Yang Zhengshan asked his family whether they objected to his marrying Yu Qingyi, received no objections, and told Wang and Liang to prepare the betrothal gifts.

Yang Zhengshan prepared to marry Yu Qingyi, arranging a matchmaker and impressive betrothal gifts while informing his family. A letter from Yang Mingzhi brought news of Li’s pregnancy and Zhou Lan’s plans for the Jianning Guard, and the chapter ended with the Azure Sky Sword Sect’s four elders gathered in their main hall.

• Yang Zhengshan reassured Yu Qingyi that his family would accept her and helped her write a letter to her relatives.
• Wang hired a matchmaker, and Yang Zhengshan prepared betrothal gifts, adding four fine horses for the Azure Sky Sword Sect.
• Yang Mingcheng delivered Yang Mingzhi’s letter, which described Zhou Lan’s plans to train tun fortress soldiers and improve the fortresses.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that Li was pregnant again and told Yang Mingcheng to inform Yang Mingzhi about his impending marriage to Yu Qingyi.
• The four elders of the Azure Sky Sword Sect gathered in the sect’s main hall.

The Azure Sky Sword Sect elders discussed Yu Qingyi’s decision to marry Yang Zhengshan and agreed to test his strength before approving the match. Yang Zhengshan arrived in Yuanhe County with his betrothal gifts, while Yu Qingyi rode ahead to the sect; he planned to visit the sect the next morning.

• Su Kun and the elders discussed Yu Qingyi’s marriage, and Hua Jinqiu proposed testing Yang Zhengshan with the Azure Sky Sword Formation.
• Su Kun, Cao De, Xue Linfu, and Hua Jinqiu agreed that Cao De, Xue Linfu, and Hua Jinqiu would use the formation to assess Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan left Anyuan City with his convoy and reached Yuanhe County, where Yu Qingyi separated from him to return to the Azure Sky Sword Sect.
• Yang Zhengshan declined to meet Magistrate Lin and sent Yang Mingcheng to reassure him that the trouble in Anyuan City would not affect him.
• Yang Zhengshan entered Yuanhe County with the convoy and settled at an inn, intending to head for the sect the next morning.

Yang Zhengshan visited the Azure Sky Sword Sect to seek Yu Qingyi’s hand in marriage, but her martial uncles demanded he face their sword formation. The spar began with Yang Zhengshan on the defensive, and he started spinning his spear to change the fight’s momentum.

• Yang Zhengshan arrived at the Azure Sky Sword Sect and found Yu Qingyi, its four elders, and a crowd waiting for him.
• Hua Jinqiu insisted Yang Zhengshan follow jianghu custom and pass a martial trial before proceeding up the mountain.
• Yang Zhengshan accepted the challenge and took a spear from Ding Qiu, while Yu Qingyi worried and Luo Feiyu called him “Brother-in-law.”
• Hua Jinqiu, Cao De, and Xue Linfu formed a triangular formation and pressed Yang Zhengshan with coordinated sword attacks.
• After retreating more than ten zhang without escaping their assault, Yang Zhengshan warned the three and spun his spear to counter their formation.

Yang Zhengshan fought Hua Jinqiu, Cao De, and Xue Linfu, then gained the Azure Sky Sword Sect elders’ approval to marry Yu Qingyi. He promised to treat her well and never take a concubine as the group welcomed him into the sect.

• Yang Zhengshan struggled to break the Azure Sky Sword Formation, but Cao De stopped the spar after twisting his waist, and the elders counted Yang Zhengshan the winner.
• Su Kun allowed Yang Zhengshan to go up the mountain, signaling the sect’s approval of his marriage to Yu Qingyi.
• Luo Feiyu asked Yang Zhengshan about becoming an official, and Yang Zhengshan said he would consider recommending him after the marriage.
• Su Kun warned Yang Zhengshan that the Azure Sky Sword Sect would defend Yu Qingyi if she were mistreated.
• Yang Zhengshan said Yu Qingyi would be his lawful wife and promised he would never take a concubine.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi agreed to marry, and the Azure Sky Sword Sect arranged for Hua Jinqiu to succeed Yu Qingyi as sect master. After the marriage arrangements and preparations in Anyuan City advanced, Yang Zhengshan focused on spring-plowing oversight and learned that the new Assistant Commissioner had come to see him.

• Su Kun agreed to Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi's marriage, and Hua Jinqiu volunteered to serve as sect master so Yu Qingyi could marry soon.
• Hua Jinqiu reassured Yu Qingyi about the Yang Family, while the matchmaker began the formal marriage rites and took Yu Qingyi's birth details.
• Su Kun agreed to lend ten Azure Sky Sword Sect disciples as Yang Family guards and to support Luo Feiyu's official appointment.
• Yang Zhengshan inspected Fire Road Mounds and Signal Fire Towers during spring plowing, uncovering abuses and beheading a Squad Leader who had sold seed grain.
• Luo Shang's shopkeepers prepared to open Jinxiu Workshop, Luo Feiyu brought the ten disciples to Anyuan City, and the Military Defense Circuit reopened under a new Assistant Commissioner.
• The newly arrived Assistant Commissioner came to Yang Zhengshan's residence on his second day in Anyuan City.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed Assistant Commissioner Xu Jin, who planned to inspect the military farms, then spent half a day harvesting and processing herbs in his expanding Spirit Spring Space. At dusk, he walked with his grandson Yang Chengye and asked about his studies.

• Yang Zhengshan told Xu Jin that the Tun-Managing Official would accompany him to inspect the military farms the next day, and Xu Jin left dissatisfied.
• Yang Zhengshan entered the Spirit Spring Space, harvested several hundred valuable medicinal herbs, processed them, and replanted the cleared land.
• Yang Zhengshan considered limiting short-cycle crops and using the expanding space for longer-growing medicines, trees, and irrigation channels.
• Yang Zhengshan strolled through the courtyard and met Yang Chengye, whose manners had improved under Mother Li's instruction.
• Yang Zhengshan took Yang Chengye for a walk by the pond and asked him about his school lessons.